Firewire Interface for Mac with 16 Analog Ins and Outs

[Fireball71]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a firewire interface for Mac with 16 analog inputs and 16 analog outputs.
I've checked out the UAD Apollo, but I can't seem to find the firewire version in stock anywhere.

Any suggestions?

[JoelG]

You could get the Saffire Pro: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SaffPro40 and then add an ADAT pre.

I'm quite happy with my Scarlett 18i20..

Joel

[Southsidemusic]

Originally Posted by Fireball71

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a firewire interface for Mac with 16 analog inputs and 16 analog outputs.
I've checked out the UAD Apollo, but I can't seem to find the firewire version in stock anywhere.

Any suggestions?

We have the first version Apollo Quad silver unit laying around for sale if you want one Quad with Firewire option. Mint of course and i can send it in original boxes anywhere. Includes all the original parts aswell as the pligin suite that comes with new purchase.

Let me know if you want to talk and i will help you

[Fireball71]

Thanks for the quick response guys.

@JoelG, this is mainly to feed into my analog summing bus for mixing, so I'd prefer if the audio doesn't go through another piece of gear between the interface and the Dangerous.
If I end up having to do that, then I can just get a D/A converter for the existing interface (Digi003) that I have now and run the ADAT outs into that (though I haven't found a decent one for under $2,000).
Which converters would you suggest?

@Southsidemusic, does that have 16 analog outputs? I'm trying to find specs for that version online. Can you send me a link?

[Southsidemusic]

Hey,

Sorry, I mixed these up as we have been using both the Quads and the Apollo16 interfaces, they one we have for sale is Not 16/16 analog ins and outs, I was thinking of the Apollo16 Firewire version.

I think if you need 16/16 there are better priced alternatives like MOTU and Aurora for example. Focusrite also have good options so sorry for my mistake here. Our Apollo Quad FW interface is only 8/8 and you needed 16/16.

Check the Focusrite and Motu interfaces, great drivers and good sounding gear.

[VRW]

The only affordable FW interface with 16 analog outs I have found will be this one.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ICE16
http://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/ice-16/

Well, Allen&Heath is not that bad in general but I cannot say anything about it´s quality. Yet it has good reviews on the web.

If you could use a USB 2 port on your system this would be a perfect solution for you I think.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/16A
http://motu.com/products/avb/16a

This Motu 16A is a really current device, offers great quality for the price and you can use it via USB or Thunderbolt which means
if you ever replace your current computer you will be able to use the super fast Thunderbolt connection on a new Mac. Nevertheless
Motu´s USB connection seems to be a very good one too. And like mentioned by Christopher already they got good drivers and pro
converters. Just check it out.

The 16A offers Wordclock I/O, 16 ADAT I/Os and even an Ethernet connection. It could meet your requirements perfectly.

Anyway.

All the best to you.

[Fireball71]

Many thanks VRW.

The Allen & Heath has unbalanced outputs, so I'd have to pass on that one.

The MOTU 16A looks really good, especially with the Thunderbolt option for later.
I've been looking at a few other USB options, but I don't know if I trust using USB for low latency. I'm welcome to hearing about any low latency experiences with USB on a Mac.

[VRW]

Originally Posted by Fireball71

The Allen & Heath has unbalanced outputs, so I'd have to pass on that one.

Yeah, I saw that yet as it was the only one with FW and 16 analog outs I decided to show it to you anyway.

Originally Posted by Fireball71

I'm welcome to hearing about any low latency experiences with USB on a Mac.

I only can speak for myself of course but I used an Apogee Quartet for about 2 years with Pro Tools 11/12 successfully. I had no problems to go down to 64 samples even with large PT sessions.
Have to admit I didn´t even notice I had a USB unit then.

Had a 003R (FW) before and the Quartet offered the same quality as for latency at least. 2 classes above the 003 as for the audio quality though.

I also used a little Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 unit for mobile applications for a certain time and I noticed that it was really nice for the price yet didn´t allow me to go below 128 samples without any
noticeable issues at the end of the day.

So, theoretically both units are USB 2 interfaces yet there seem to be crucial differences as for latency and quality. I´m not a technician but I have a lot of experience with all that stuff and I dare
to say...USB 2 ain´t USB 2 (even it may not sound logical...I´m aware of that fact).
No idea what some of the manufacturer do better or if they use other stuff with more expensive gear?
Fact was that with the more expensive USB 2 gear like the Apogee Quartet I never realized I even had a USB interface while with the cheaper ones I hit the wall from time to time.

As for the Motu 16A they say it was a really good and fast USB connection and it sounds like something I experienced with the Apogee Quartet.
It of course depends on what the user wants to do with the interface finally yet I think current USB interfaces in the price range of the Motu (and even more expensive) will do the job.
Just from my own really positive experience with the USB 2 Apogee Quartet and Pro Tools and from the experience of other colleagues.

Btw these experiences I had using a Mid 2014 MBP i7Quad 2,5Ghz, 16GB Ram, 500GB Flash and several versions of OS X from Mavericks to El Capitan.

Regarding your needs the Motu could be worth a try at least imo.

Cheers.

[Fireball71]

Thanks again VRW.

I'm gonna do some more research on the MOTU 16A, along with the others.

Sweetwater just let me know that they have the Aphex 141 in stock. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/141
It's only $399, so I figure in the interim I'll give it a try with the 003 to convert the 8 ADAT channels to analog.
What do you guys think? Worth a shot? Or is it a waste of money?

[VRW]

Originally Posted by Fireball71

Thanks again VRW.

I'm gonna do some more research on the MOTU 16A, along with the others.

Sweetwater just let me know that they have the Aphex 141 in stock. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/141
It's only $399, so I figure in the interim I'll give it a try with the 003 to convert the 8 ADAT channels to analog.
What do you guys think? Worth a shot? Or is it a waste of money?

Thanks.

As for the Aphex I don´t know this guy personally yet what I have seen was that it is not the most current piece of gear (came out 2008)
which from my personal experience is not the best qualification for converters. As well as low prices.

On the other hand the Akai has got no bad reviews basically. So you may check it out for yourself.
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-m...-them-yet.html

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-m...hex-141-a.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWGh6rSvaf4

http://www.aphex.com/products/141b

If you decide to stay with your 003 and you don´t want to invest more there I found another more current box still for under 1k. It even
offers you 8 mic pres optionally.
It´s this one.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DigiMaxDP88

http://www.soundonsound.com/news/sum...max-dp88-video

https://www.presonus.com/products/DigiMax-DP88

So you may consider the Presonus for it´s better quality, the option for 8 more pres and it´s younger age (came out 2015)...with converters
younger is better in most cases ...

The Presonus will offer you 8 analog I/Os, 8 ADAT I/Os, 8 mic pres, Wordclock and Midi I/O. Further there is an option to completely bypass the
mic pres for 8 clean, uncolored Line Ins.

It is still half the price for the MOTU (which certainly will be a nice one) and only $300.- more than the old Akai.
Anyway if you want to keep it really low as for the price maybe the Akai will suffice.
Just don´t go with Behringer gear for serious audio applications. It may do the job for small live stuff but ain´t worth it for any kind of recordings.

All the best to you.